Irakli Dzaria (born 1 December 1988) is a former Georgian professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Irakli Dzaria | ||
| Date of birth | 1 December 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Poti, Georgian SSR | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Shukura (assistant manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Kolkheti-1913 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | Kolkheti-1913 | 30 | (6) |
| 2005–2011 | Zestafoni | 108 | (8) |
| 2012–2015 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 76 | (9) |
| 2015–2016 | Dila Gori | 24 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | Sioni | 10 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Dila Gori | 30 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | Kukësi | 43 | (5) |
| 2019 | Valletta | 10 | (2) |
| 2020–2022 | Torpedo Kutaisi | 40 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2009 | Georgia U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Georgia | 9 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 July 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 March 2017 | |||
He is the four-time winner of the Georgian top league.
In July 2023, he was appointed as assistant manager at Shukura Kobuleti.[1]
Club career
Kukësi
On 9 January 2018, Dzaria moved for the first time aboard and joined with Albanian club Kukësi by penning a contract until the end of the season with an option to renew for the next one worth $4,000 per month.[2] He made his debut for the club on 31 January in the first leg of cup's quarter-finals against Tirana.[3]
His first Albanian Superliga appearance came four days later in the 1–1 draw versus Flamurtari Vlorë.[4] Dzaria scored his maiden goal for the team on 24 February in form of a winner in the match against Laçi.[5]
Later on 13 May, he scored a first-half brace in the eventual 2–2 draw versus Luftëtari Gjirokastër which lifted his tally up to 4 goals. He ended the second part of 2017–18 season by making 16 league appearances, all of them as starter, collecting 1320 minutes as Kukësi finished runner-up in the championship.[6]
In June 2018, Kukësi gained the right to play UEFA Champions League football following the Skënderbeu Korçë's 10-year ban; the next month, Dzaria was included in manager Peter Pacult squad for the first qualifying round tie versus Malta's Valletta.[7][8] In the second leg, with Kukësi trailing 0–1, Dzaria made himself a protagonist by netting in the 84th minute with a right-footed shot inside the box which gave the team a 1–1 draw at National Stadium, Ta' Qali.[9] With the first match ending in a goalless draw,[10] Kukësi progressed to the next round on away goal rule.[9] It was his first Champions League goal, and he described it as the most important goal of his career.[11]
International career
Dzaria earned his first cap with the Georgian national team against Albania in Viseu on 29 February 2012.[12]
International goals
- Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5 June 2013 | Nordjyske Arena, Aalborg, Denmark |  Denmark | 1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
Honours
- FC Zestafoni
- Dinamo Tbilisi
- Valletta F.C.
- Maltese Super Cup: 2019–20
References
External links
- Irakli Dzaria – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Irakli Dzaria at Soccerway